Sixty-one years ago, Doris Ourecky brought her young children to what her 1,400-person town believed would be a small celebration of Czech heritage.⁠ ⁠ Things didn’t go according to plan.⁠ ⁠ When 10,000 people arrived, festival organizers were overwhelmed. Ourecky said they were in a frenzy to make more food for the unexpected crowd, roasting duck after duck in neighborhood kitchens.⁠ ⁠ “It was a nightmare,” Ourecky said Aug. 6, laughing.⁠ ⁠ The town decided to give it another go the following year, this time with enough concessions for everyone. The Nebraska Czech Society, formed for the purpose of hosting the event, found the second festival to be a success.⁠ ⁠ Last weekend, the town continued the tradition by holding the 61st annual Wilber Czech Festival. ⁠ ⁠ Head to the 🔗 in our bio to read more about the celebration. ⁠ ⁠ ✏: Jenna Thompson & 📷: Noah Riffe / Lincoln Journal Star